Modular fence

ABSTRACT

A modular fence is disclosed comprising a plurality of vertically extending fence boards each of which is provided with spaced apart exterior surfaces, a top edge, a bottom edge and coextensive side edges. Grooves are formed in the side edges and are defined by a pair of spaced apart parallel projections, one of which is adapted to be received in the groove of an adjacent fence board.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application No. 60/710,889, filed Aug. 24, 2005.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a modular fence including a plurality of juxtaposed interlocking fence boards, each of which is identical to the adjacent board, and when interlocked the fence boards form a fence having an offset shadow overall appearance.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The prior art contains disclosures of fence boards having edge portions which may be joined together by cooperating configurations or by an interlocking member.

However, none of the prior art fences has disclosed a structure wherein substantially identical fence boards may be interlocked to form a privacy fence having an aesthetically improved overall appearance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Surprisingly, applicant has discovered that a modular fence has been produced by joining a series of substantially identical fence boards to result in an overall construction having a unique appearance. More specifically, the fence construction is comprised of a series of fence boards wherein the opposed edges of each board is formed with elongate female openings defined by spaced apart coextensive projections adapted to be selectively received by an elongate female opening of an adjacent board to produce an attractive unique overall appearance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent to one skilled in the art when considered in the light of the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a modular fence consisting of the elements of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a fence board of the modular fence illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the fence board taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the fence boards illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 showing a detent structure;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of another detent structure for the fence boards; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of still another alternative detent structure for the fence boards.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The following provides a detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the invention. The embodiments described and illustrated herein are exemplary in nature, and serve simply as examples to aid in enabling one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention. The description and illustration of exemplary embodiments are not intended to limit the invention, or its protection, in any manner.

The invention relates to a modular fence which is produced by joining a series of substantially identical fence boards to result in an overall construction having a unique appearance. The fence boards are provided with opposed edges which include elongate openings adapted to extend along substantially the entire length of the respective edges. The elongate openings are defined by spaced apart projections. As illustrated, the projection of one of the fence boards is adapted to be received by the elongate opening of an adjacent fence board. The resultant structure achieves a unique fence construction.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4 inclusive, there is illustrated a modular fence including a plurality of vertically extending fence boards 10 supported between spaced apart upper and lower horizontally extending fence rails 12 and 14, respectively. The opposite ends of the upper and lower fence rails 12 and 14 are respectively supported by and connected to spaced apart vertically extending fence posts 16, 18.

The fence boards 10 are typically hollow and include a front wall 20, a spaced apart rear wall 22, and spaced apart sidewalls 24 and 26 which are integral with and connected to respective side edges of the front and rear walls 20, 22, respectively. Strengthening webs 28 are disposed in spaced apart relation in the hollow interior of the fence boards 10 and are effective to provide additional strength to the individual fence boards 10 and provide a structural means to militate against the flexing or bending of the fence boards which might otherwise be damaged by high velocity wind loads, for example.

V-shaped grooves 30, 32 may be formed in the front and rear walls 20, 22, respectively. Typically, the grooves 30, 32 extend the full length of the respective wall and are separated from one another by a strengthening web 34 which functions in a manner similar to the webs 28. While the grooves 30, 32 function to supplement the overall strength of the fence board 10, amongst the main purposes of the grooves 30, 32 is to enhance the overall aesthetic appearance of the fence board 10.

The sidewalls 24, 26 of the fence boards 10 are provided with grooves or channels 44, 46, respectively, which extend the length of the sidewalls 24, 26. The width of the groove 44 is defined by a pair of spaced apart projections 48 and 50; and the width of the groove 46 is defined by a pair of spaced apart projections 52 and 54. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, the outer edges of the projections are chamfered at an angle which is substantially the same as the corresponding angle of the corresponding section of the intermediate grooves 30, 32. The width or thickness of the projections 48, 50, 52, 54 is substantially equal to or slightly less than the spacing between the facing surface of projections 48, 50 and 52, 54 that cooperate to form respective grooves 44 and 46. The relative thickness of the projections and the associated grooves becomes relevant in the assemblage of the modular fence as explained in the following description.

While there are a number of ways in which the modular fence illustrated in FIG. 1 may be assembled, the following steps are deemed illustrative of one acceptable method. The steps are as follows:

-   -   1. Initially, a fence post 16 is adequately anchored into the         ground, for example.     -   2. One end of a lower fence rail 14 is positioned on and coupled         to the fence post 16. The opposite end of the rail 14 is         suitably supported typically, on a temporary basis, to be         horizontal until permanently affixed to a vertically extended         fence post 18 when the entire array of fence boards 10 is in         place. The fence rail 14 is provided with an upwardly opening         channel of a suitable width to receive the lower end of a fence         board 10. As will become apparent, the width of the channel must         be of width to snuggly receive the lower ends of an array of         fence boards 10 when appropriately coupled together in an offset         manner to produce a shadow groove overall appearance.     -   3. Next, lower end of a first fence board 10 is disposed within         the channel of the lower fence rail 14 and urged to rest against         the vertically extending fence post 16.     -   4. The lower end of a second fence board 10 is disposed within         the channel of the lower fence rail 14 and the projection 50 of         the second fence board 10 is fitted into and received by the         groove 44 of the first fence board 10, and simultaneously the         projection 48 of the first fence board 10 is fitted into and         received by the groove 46 of the second fence board 10.     -   5. The installation procedure is continued in the above manner         and as more particularly illustrated in FIG. 4 until the entire         modular fence section as determined by the length of the lower         fence rail 14 is filled with upstanding interconnected fence         boards 10.     -   6. One end of an upper fence rail 12 is positioned on and         coupled to the fence post 16. The fence rail 12 is provided with         a downwardly opening channel of a suitable width to receive the         upper ends of the coupled together fence boards 10. When the         fence boards 10 are properly disposed within the upwardly         opening channel of the lower fence rail 14, the upper fence rail         12 is lowered onto the upper ends of the fence boards 10.     -   7. A second fence post 18 is adequately anchored into the ground         or other suitable supporting base and the other ends of the         lower fence rail 14 and the upper fence rail 12 are positioned         on and coupled to the fence post 18, completing the modular         fence.

The preferred material for forming the fence boards 10 is polyvinyl chloride. While various wall thicknesses can be utilized, it is currently considered that the preferred thickness of the walls of the fence board 10 should be 0.045 inch thick. The preferred width of the fence board is 13.375 inches and the preferred thickness is ⅝ inch. By utilization of a ⅝ inch thickness for the fence boards 10, the overall stacked or assembled thickness of the connected array of fence boards is ⅞ inch which fits into the standard commercially available privacy rails. While the illustrated embodiment of the invention discloses the use of a plastic material such as polyvinyl chloride, it will be understood that a fence board utilizing the first uses of the invention may be produced from other materials such as wood plastic composites, for example. If the fence board is produced from such material, the board would typically be solid.

It will be understood that while the embodiment of the fence board 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 shows a modular fence comprised of adjacent fence boards 10 being joined together to form an offset shadow appearance. It will be understood that through the utilization of a center connector element (not shown), the fence boards 10 could be joined together to produce an in-line condition and, thus, a different overall aesthetic appearance.

FIG. 5-7 show various detent structures to enhance the interlock coupling of adjacent fence boards 10. More specifically, FIG. 5 illustrates the incorporation of cooperating projecting detents 60, 62 formed on the facing surfaces of the projections 48, 50. It is considered only one set of the projecting detents 60, 62 per fence board 10 is necessary. However, there could be situations where the projections emanate from each of the facing sidewalls of the fence boards 10.

FIG. 6 illustrates differently shaped detents 64, 66 wherein the exposed surfaces are rounded.

FIG. 7 illustrates one other embodiment similar to that illustrated in FIG. 6 wherein each of the facing surfaces of the projection 48, 50 is provided with a plurality of detents 68, 70.

From the foregoing description, one ordinarily skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention and, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications to the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions. 

1. A modular fence comprising: at least one extending rail having a groove formed therein; and a plurality of fence boards, each of the fence boards having a first extended surface and a spaced apart second extended surface, the first and second extended surfaces defined by a first edge, a second edge, and coextensive spaced apart side edges, the side edges configured to engage with a side edge of an adjacent fence board, at least the first edge of the fence board being received by and maintained within the channel formed in the extending rail to provide a rigid fence assembly wherein the side edges and the extended surfaces of adjacent fence boards cooperate to present a spaced apart offset shadow line effect over the fence assembly.
 2. A modular fence according to claim 1 wherein the rail extends horizontally.
 3. A modular fence according to claim 1 wherein the configuration of the side edges of the fence boards are configured to include a groove.
 4. A modular fence according to claim 3 wherein the groove extends along each of the side edges of the fence board.
 5. A modular fence according to claim 4 wherein the groove is defined by a pair of spaced apart parallel and coextensive projections.
 6. A modular fence according to claim 4 wherein the groove is defined by a pair of cooperating spaced apart projections.
 7. A modular fence according to claim 6 wherein the projections include cooperating facing surfaces.
 8. A modular fence according to claim 7 wherein the facing surfaces include inwardly extending detents.
 9. A modular fence according to claim 5 wherein at least one of the facing surfaces is resilient.
 10. A modular fence according to claim 9 wherein the spacing between the facing surfaces of the projections of the groove is at least equal to the thickness of the projections.
 11. A modular fence according to claim 5 wherein the projections have a chamfered outer surface configuration.
 12. A modular fence according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the extended surfaces is provided with a groove.
 13. A modular fence according to claim 12 wherein the groove is coextensive with the extended surface.
 14. A modular fence according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the extended surfaces is provided with a stepped configuration.
 15. A modular fence according to claim 1 wherein the fence boards are formed of sheet material.
 16. A modular fence according to claim 15 wherein the sheet material is plastic.
 17. A modular fence according to claim 16 wherein the plastic is selected from a group of polymerized thermoplastic vinyls including polyvinyl chloride.
 18. A modular fence comprising: a rail having a channel formed therein; and a plurality of fence boards, each of the boards having spaced apart exterior surfaces, a top edge, a bottom edge, and coextensive side edges, grooves formed in the side edges, the grooves being defined by a pair of spaced apart parallel and coextensive projections, the side edges of each of the fence boards being coupled to the side edges of an adjacent fence board by the insertion of one of the projections of one board inserted into the groove of the adjacent fence board and having the top and bottom edges of the fence board being maintained within the channel of the horizontal rail.
 19. In a modular fence including at least one horizontally extending rail member for supporting at least a pair of interconnected fence boards and at least a pair of interconnected fence boards wherein the improvement comprises: a fence board having opposed edges formed with elongate openings defined by spaced apart coextensive projections adapted to be selectively received by an elongate opening of an adjacent board.
 20. The fence board according to claim 19 wherein said spaced apart coextensive projections include at least one detent.
 21. A fence board according to claim 19 wherein said spaced apart coextensive projections include at least one detent which protrudes outwardly from each coextensive projection toward a second coextensive projection.
 22. A modular fence comprising a plurality of substantially identical fence boards, said fence boards include opposed edges, having elongate openings therein, said openings defined by spaced apart coextensive projections adapted to be selectively received by an elongate opening of an adjacent board, and said boards are interlocked by the insertion of one of the coextensive projections into the opening of the adjacent board.
 23. A modular fence according to claim 22 wherein said spaced apart coextensive projections includes at least one detent.
 24. A modular fence according to claim 22 wherein each of said spaced apart coextensive projections includes at least one detent, said detent protrudes outwardly from each projection toward an adjacent projection. 